The Loudoun Academy of Science is a part time alternative school program for high school students enrolled in Loudoun County Public Schools

Loudoun County Public Schools

Loudoun County Public Schools is a branch of the Loudoun County, Virginia, United States government, and administers public schools in the county...

. Currently, the program is located at the campus of Dominion High School

Dominion High School

Dominion High School is a public secondary school in Sterling, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. It is part of Loudoun County Public Schools. Dominion High School first opened in 2003, receiving students from Potomac Falls High School and Park View High School...

 at 21326 Augusta Drive in Sterling

Sterling, Virginia

Sterling, Virginia is a census-designated place in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 27,822.It is located northwest of Herndon, east of Ashburn, and west of Great Falls, and includes part of Dulles International Airport and the former AOL corporate headquarters...

, an area in unincorporated Loudoun County

Loudoun County, Virginia

Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

History and structure

The Academy was established in 2005 as a magnet program of science and technology for Loudoun County students.
The purpose of the Academy is to provide advanced math and science courses for gifted students in science and technology. These courses include Advanced Placement courses, as well as classes devoted to scientific research. Science classes in the 9th and 10th grades integrate physical components of earth science, physics, and chemistry in preparation for AP level sciences in the 12th grade. The math curriculum integrates statistics and modeling in all of its courses, which range from Algebra to Multivariable Calculus and Differential Equations.

Admissions

The admissions process is extremely competitive for 8th graders who wish to attend the Academy, based primarily on students' academic performance (grades) in middle school, a writing sample, as well as teacher recommendations. Starting in 2009, PSAT is an application requirement for public, private, and home schooling students. You must fill out an application form found at http://www.lcps.org/aos and pay a fee of 17.50 for the PSAT test, which the child will take at Dominion High School on a given date.

Extra curricular activities and athletics

All students who attend the Academy go to classes located at Dominion High School every other school day where they take courses in math, science, and research. On other days, Academy students attend their home school, where they take courses in English, Social Studies, and other electives. The ten Loudoun County High Schools try to coordinate their schedules to allow Academy students to take extra curricular classes, including music, physical education, etc. at the home school. Students who attend the Loudoun Academy of Science are not considered to be students solely at the Academy, nor are they considered to be Dominion students, unless an Academy student lives in the Dominion HS attendance zone; they are still considered students at their home schools, based on their residences.

Academy students who are on athletic teams play for their home schools and their respective conferences.

There are many clubs that take place at the Academy of Science. For example, MUN, JETS, Physics and Biology clubs.

Research

Most of the Academy of Science is based on a junior/senior year research project. After a topic is chosen and approved, students work with a large spectrum of different lab devices and their mentor to further develop this research project. Students also are given the option to apply for a collaboration project with students of Hwa Chong Institute in Singapore. Participants in this program are then presented the opportunity to travel to Singapore for a research competition.

In past years, students have developed numerous research projects that have been exceptionally successful--some of these had research papers were published, while others went on to place in many large science competitions such as the Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition.

College Admissions

Academy of Science students have had great success in the college admissions process, having half of the '08 and '09 graduating classes gaining acceptance into the University of Virginia. In addition approximately 25% of the 2009 graduating were accepted into Ivy league universities. Among the students of the class 2009, 35 applied to the University of Virginia, 20-25 students were accepted. For UVa, this rate (~64%) is a better rate than general applicants (38%), but behind other academic programs like International Baccalaureate (70%).

Awards and Recognitions

2010 - 1st in Russian Space Olympics